Tour de France: Chris Froome on top after crash

Belgium: Chris Froome made a statement of intent yesterday by taking over the race leader's yellow jersey at the end of a crash-marred third stage of the Tour de France.

Great Britain's Christopher Froome celebrates atop the podium with the race leader's yellow jersey after Stage Three of the Tour de France between the Belgian cities of Antwerp and Huy yesterday . Pic/AFP

The 30-year-old Briton finished second on the 159.5km run from Antwerp to the infamous Mur (wall) de Huy behind Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez. But his high finish coupled with six bonus seconds on the line was enough to give Team Sky leader Froome the yellow jersey by one second from German Tony Martin.

Martin misses outIt was agonising for Martin once again as he has now spent three days within touching distance of the jersey without being able to snatch it. Yet the main news of the day was the spectacular crash that saw four riders abandoned as around 20 hit the deck.

Among them was the yellow jersey-wearer Fabian Cancellara who, although able to continue, was visibly hurt and lost several minutes by the end.

Australia's Simon Gerrans, Frenchman William Bonnet, who caused the crash, Dutchman Tom Dumoulin and Dmitry Kozontchuk of Russia were the four forced out of the race after the crash 100km into the stage. However, once the race restarted, with 52km left to ride, the race was on.